Fur Kids Foundation board members and volunteers are big proponents of shopping local over the holidays! While you're shopping this Saturday, November 26, don't forget to take a selfie at the small business you're at, check into the place of business, tag the Campbell County Chamber of Commerce and Gillette Main Street on Facebook with #shopsmall2016gillette. The pictures with the most likes will win Chamber Bucks and Downtown Dollars. Be sure to check out some animal focused local shopping options on our Resources pages.

Our 2017 Pet Calendar is on sale online for just $10.25, which includes the cost to ship the calendar (calendars are regularly $19)! This adorably cute, full-color, 11x20-inch wall calendar features close to 150 photos of dogs, cats, horses and cows submitted by their beloved humans during our inaugural pet photo contest in May.

​Amazon donates .05% of eligible purchases to the Foundation. Since 2014, FKF supporters who have used Amazon Smile have donated nearly $400 back to us, just by shopping from the comfort of your own home. Thank you!

But supporting Fur Kids Foundation doesn’t end there! As we’ve been mentioning, Tuesday, November 29, just happens to be #GivingTuesday. This is a day when people across the country will celebrate the holidays by making donations to the causes that matter most to them. Nonprofit organizations are vital to any community, and we’ve all learned over the last year that they are very important here in Campbell County. Please consider making a #GivingTuesday donation to Fur Kids Foundation this year.

Fur Kids Foundation is the only organization in Northeastern Wyoming that provides families with pets access to veterinary care when they cannot afford it. Since September 2012, the Foundation has kept more than 350 families with pets healthy and together, and granted nearly $55,000 in emergency veterinary aid. We're proud to say that nearly 75% of the money we have raised goes directly to helping families with pets locally.

For our supporters, thank you for your continued generosity and support throughout the years—it helps us continue to do more for the health of pets in our community. Be sure to check out our success stories, and please consider supporting us this holiday season: http://www.furkidsfoundation.org/donate.html

Earlier this month, AMC announced on their Facebook page that for every new page like the clinic received, they would add a treat to their treat jar. When the jar became full of treats, the veterinary clinic said they would donate $350 to Fur Kids Foundation. By November 14, the jar was overflowing with treats! Read more here

We appreciate and value AMC's support to Fur Kids Foundation and our community.

Bella is a three-year-old Pomchi (a cross between the Pomeranian and the Chihuahua) who was really sick. Her family watched as poor Bella shook, vomited and lost her appetite.

Her family rushed her to the vet clinic where she had to stay the night, receive fluids, and was eventually diagnosed with Hemorrhaic Gastroenteritis (HGE). According to VCA Animal Hospitals, HGE can affect any breed, age, size, or gender of dog, but it is most common in small- and toy-breed dogs. Most cases of HGE occur suddenly in healthy dogs.

The exact cause of HGE can be related to eating non-food items or even dramatically different foods than what the dog is accustomed to, intestinal parasites and bacteria, or even stress, anxiety, and hyperactivity in many cases. Dogs with HGE will appear severely ill and, if left untreated, may die, so it is best to rush your dog to a vet immediately if you see the following symptoms:

large amounts of bloody diarrhea, very often bright red

a painful abdomen

decreased appetite

fatigue

or fever

Bella’s mom is out of work due to a disability, and her dad is the only one working, so having Bella sick was hard on the family. They reached out to Fur Kids Foundation for assistance, and we were happy to help. After Bella's hospital stay, some medication, and fluid therapy, she's feeling much better and back in the comfort of her home with her family.

Fur Kids Foundation is grateful for the dedication of our volunteers and supporters who have helped local families stay happy and healthy, and together! If you would like to help Fur Kids Foundation continue to help families in Campbell County, Wyoming with animals, please consider making a tax-deductible donation. The money helps families during a time when they may not be able to afford adequate veterinary care. Check out more Success Stories.

This is Lola, a 5-year-old Snowshoe Siamese cat who is an indoor kitty. But, like many cats, Lola decided to test her nine lives with a great escape. And, as Fur Kids Foundation has come to learn, the great escapes never end well.

As Lola was cruising the neighborhood, she managed to get bitten by something. By the time Lola's parents caught up with her, they knew she needed to go to the vet. The vet found that Lola had an abscess that was infected. Abscesses are a common skin condition in cats, which often occur as a result of bites during fights but can also occur from other means, such as a cat running into a sharp object that may have bacteria on it.

Abscesses are often swollen, hot, and painful for the cat when touched. If they open, a thick yellowish discharge may be seen, and this will often have a foul smell. If an abscess does not open, the cat may become ill. In cats, an abscess is often hidden under the fur, and the first sign of illness the owner may see is that the cat is acting depressed and not eating. The cat usually has a fever. If the abscess is on a leg, the cat may limp. The cat may try to bite if the area is stroked or touched because the abscess is painful. Because of the pain, some cats may appear irritable or aggressive.

The vet thoroughly cleaned the area around the abscess and gave Lola some antibiotics so the infection would go away.

Lola’s dad is unemployed and her mom just getting back to work after being laid off and having a child, so they reached out to Fur Kids Foundation for help. We are happy to report that Lola is on the mend and up to her feline tricks.

Fur Kids Foundation is grateful for the dedication of our volunteers and supporters who have helped local families stay happy and healthy, and together! If you would like to help Fur Kids Foundation continue to help families in Campbell County, Wyoming with animals, please consider making a tax-deductible donation. The money helps families during a time when they may not be able to afford adequate veterinary care. Check out more Success Stories.

​Clark is a senior mutt who is dearly loved by his dad. So just imagine his heartache when he accidentally ran over Clark, dislocating his back hip. Clark was rushed to the vet clinic immediately and during his evaluation the vet discovered that Clark also has bilateral hip dysplasia, meaning both of Clark’s hips were affected by the disease.

For those who don’t know, hip dysplasia is a very common skeletal diseases in dogs. It’s a disease in which the ball and socket joint of the hip does not form properly resulting in a joint that rubs and grinds instead of sliding smoothly. Large and giant breeds are typically affected--including the Great Dane, Saint Bernard, Labrador Retriever, and German Shepherd--rarely, small breed dogs can also be affected. According to PetMD, symptoms of hip dysplasia can include some of the following:

Decreased activity and reluctance to run, jump, or climb stairs

Difficulty rising

Intermittent or persistent hind-limb lameness, often worse after exercise

​Depending upon the symptoms and the amount of discomfort the pet is showing, hip dysplasia can often be treated by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which can be prescribed by a veterinarian. Pet owners can also consider doses of glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate and/or omega-3 fatty acid nutritional supplements. Vets often recommend moderate daily exercise and avoiding high impact activities such as jumping can keep the pet mobile. Dogs should also be at a healthy weight so the hip joint isn’t under any unnecessary stress.

Because of this disease, and the severity of the progression of the disease, the only option Clark had was to have surgery to remove the head of his femur (leg bone). Clark’s dad is a seasonal employee who is currently looking for a better paying job since his hours had been cut. He reached out to Fur Kids Foundation for assistance, and we were happy to help. Clark is on the mend, and we hope he has a happy, healthy life.

As a side note: Hip dysplasia is considered a genetic or inherited disease. Many vets will recommend that any pet showing signs of hip dysplasia should NOT be bred.

Fur Kids Foundation is grateful for the dedication of our volunteers and supporters who have helped local families stay happy and healthy, and together! If you would like to help Fur Kids Foundation continue to help families in Campbell County, Wyoming with animals, please consider making a tax-deductible donation. The money helps families during a time when they may not be able to afford adequate veterinary care. Check out more Success Stories.

On Tuesday, November 29, hundreds of thousands of people across the country will celebrate #GivingTuesday by making donations to the causes that matter most to them.

Can we count on you to remember Fur Kids Foundation?

Fur Kids Foundation is the only organization in Northeastern Wyoming that provides families with pets access to veterinary care when they cannot afford it. Since September 2012, the Foundation has kept more than 350 families with pets healthy and together, and granted nearly $55,000 in emergency veterinary aid. We're proud to say that nearly 75% of the money we have raised go directly to helping families with pets in Campbell County, Wyoming.

The Gillette, Wyoming veterinary center has encouraged it’s followers on Facebook to help them get more “Likes” on their page; and, for every new like, they will add a treat to a jar—and when that jar is full, they will donate $350 to Fur Kids Foundation!

AMC has always been a wonderful supporter of Fur Kids Foundation, and we are very grateful for their support. If you're on Facebook, please consider sharing their Facebook page with your friends and family. And, if you don’t already like their page, please consider it too!

Remember, the money you help Fur Kids Foundation raise goes to helping families in Gillette, Wyoming afford emergency veterinary care. For 2016, as of October, Fur Kids Foundation has granted more than $19,000 in emergency aid, well over what we granted in 2015, and putting us over our budget for this year. We have two months left in the year, so $350 would help us out.

Since September 2012, Fur Kids Foundation has helped nearly 350 families in Campbell County, Wyoming and granted more than $54,000 in aid. You can read about the families we help in our Success Stories. You can also make your own donation to help Campbell County, Wyoming families with emergency veterinary care in the Donate section of our website; we offer Just Give and PayPal options. In 2016, nearly 75% of the funds we've raised have gone directly to helping local families stay healthy and happy.

In October 2016, Fur Kids Foundation had 18 families apply for assistance (compared to 10 families this time last year), and we were able to help 12 of those families—for a total of $2,840.74 given in aid. This is the first year that the Foundation has gone over its emergency veterinary care budget in order to help families in Campbell County, Wyoming. Below is a rundown of the cases we provided assistance to:

A cat who needed to have a leg amputated

A dog with a mass on their neck that ruptured and required medication

A dog the Foundation helped cross the Rainbow Bridge

A dog who needed surgery to correct leg

A guinea pig who needed fluids and antibiotics

A dog who needed an eye removed

A cat who needed an eye removed

A cat who needed a tail amputation

A dog who had an abscess and needed medication

A cat with an upper respiratory infection

A dog who needed a mass removed from his shoulder

A dog who has a torn ACL and is on crate rest

This month shows that we are not always able to provide assistance to every family who requests help. This happens for many reasons. Sometimes the vet bill doesn’t end up being as costly as expected so the family tells us that they can pay the bill, sometimes the applicant doesn’t complete the entire application process, or sometimes the applicant exceeds our income guidelines. To learn more about our application process, please check out our Application for Assistance, and be sure to check out our Terms of Assistance near the bottom of the application. You may also call and speak with any of our Case Managers about the process at 307.363.1131 or email furkidsfoundation@gmail.com.

We are grateful for the dedication of Fur Kids Foundation volunteers and supporters who have helped these families stay happy and healthy, and together! When you volunteer, attend an event, or help us raise money by supporting the businesses who support us with promotions, these families are who you are helping. Thank you again for all that you do for the Foundation, and for families with pets in Campbell County, Wyoming.

Please take a minute to check out our Success Stories and read more about the families with pets that we help. The Fur Kids Foundation board of directors works very hard to make sure that the majority of the money we raise helps local families; in 2016, nearly 75% of the money we have raised was spent on emergency veterinary care. Please consider a donation to help Fur Kids Foundation continue to help families stay healthy and happy in Campbell County, Wyoming.

Jill and Abbie MatsonThe Fur Kids Foundation board of directors want to give a huge shout out to Jill and Abbie Matson as the October 2016 Volunteers of the Month!

​Jill and Abbie joined the pack in September after attending their second Pet-A-Palooza. They were so impressed with the event, and their dog had a paw-some time, that they decided to become volunteers! Jill also knows Tiffany, and commented on the fact that everyone they spoke with from FKF was very friendly and clearly loved what we do, so they wanted to be a part of that as well!

When Jill completed the volunteer application, she mentioned that she wanted to help us get the word out about FKF, as well as help with events and fundraisers and even recruit new volunteers. This dynamic duo hit the streets hard for us in late October to help hang up posters for Ladies Night Out. There were a handful of locations still open to hang flyers, but this pair went above and beyond and hung posters in 20 different locations, that weren’t on our list! So, now we have 20 more locations that we can hang posters, which means more people may see information about our events.

Jill and Abbie also volunteered to work Ladies Night Out, but Abbie came down with a bug and wasn’t able to make it. Jill worked the food station and helped us clean up afterwards.

Ladies, thank you for taking the initiative to find additional locations to hang posters at, and for helping us with Ladies Night Out. We greatly appreciate your hard work in such a short time. We are grateful that you joined our pack.

We’re always posting how pawsome our volunteers are, and we sincerely mean it. If you have seen a volunteer go above and beyond, please contact us!

During Ladies Night Out, AVA Community Art Center announced that they would host a Presents for Pets class and donate 20% of the proceeds back to Fur Kids Foundation! We're so excited for this support from such wonderful group.

For those who don't know, AVA Community Art Center is a non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion of the visual arts in Northeastern Wyoming. The organization provides classes for children and adults, a gallery space for art exhibits and a gift shop. AVA is funded through donations, fundraisers, grants, and the Wyoming Arts Council, with funding from the Wyoming Sate Legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Participants at the class will paint a set of pet dishes, to delight your lovable pet, and paint two wine glasses for the pet lover (check out photos below). You get all of this for $25! The event will take place on Saturday, December 10 at 10 am at AVA Community Art Center, 509 W. Second Street in Gillette.

AVA Community Art Center realizes that pet lovers, and their pets, come in a variety of shapes and sizes. So, they are offering three different sized pet dishes for you to paint! Here are the sizes:

Small: 6 inches by 4 inches (oval), 2 inches high (pictured)

Medium: 5.5 inches in diameter, 2 inches high (pictured)

Large: 8 3/4 inches in diameter, 4 inches high (need to request for class before November 28!)

Created in November 2011, the Fur Kids Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides education and aid to promote the well-being of animals in Campbell County.

Your donation saves lives. It goes to work helping animals in Campbell County receive adequate veterinary care during a time when their family may not be able to afford it. Please contact the Foundation to learn more or donate now using PayPal.

Author

The Fur Kids Foundation blog is written by board member and Founder Felicia. If you have ideas that you would like to see published in the blog such as concerns about pet-focused topics in the community or a funny story, please contact the Foundation. Enjoy!